The early form of the Maritime Silk Road existed in the Qin and Han Dynasties. The earliest known history of exchanges between China and foreign countries by sea comes from the Geographical Records of the Book of Han, when China wa s in contact with the South China Sea states. The unearthed relics indicate that exchanges between China and other countries may have preceded the Han Dynasty.
Before the middle of the Tang Dynasty, China's main route to the outside world was the overland Silk Road. Later, due to war and the shift of economic center, the maritime Silk Road replaced the overland route as the main route for foreign trade and exchange. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a sea route along the sout heast coast of China called "Guangzhou-Haiyi Road", which was the earliest name of China's Maritime Silk Road. With a total length of 14,000 kilometers, it was the longest ocean-going route in the world at that time, passing through more than 100 countries and regions. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was an important carrier of human historical activities covering more than half of the earth and cultural and economic exchanges between the East and the West. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, silk was still the main bulk goods transported by sea pa ssage, so later generations called this sea route connecting the East and the West as the Maritime Silk Road. In the Song and Yuan dynasties, porcelain exports gradually became the main goods, so it was also called the "Maritime Ceramic Road" .At the same time, it was also called the "Sea Spice Road", because a large part of the exported goods were spices.The Maritime Silk Road is a common name.
Since its opening in the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Maritime Silk Road has served as an important bridge for economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West, and Southeast Asia has been an important hub and part of the Maritime Silk Road since ancient times.
The maritime silk road in the 21st cent ury strategic partners and not only limit and the association of south-east Asian nations (asean), but in point of belt line, in line with the surface,
enhance exchanges with border of countries and regions, the string connected a sean, South Asia, west Asia, north Africa, Europe and other major economic sector of the market chain, development strategic cooperation for the south China sea, the Pacific and Indian Ocean economic belt, To take the integration of Asia -Europe and Africa economy and trade as the long-term goal of development. As ASEAN is located at the crossroads of the Maritime Silk Road, it will be the primary development goal of the new Maritime Silk Road strategy, while China and ASEAN have a broad political foundation and solid economic foundation. The 21st Century Maritime Silk strategy meets the common interests and common requirements of both sides.
In the new century, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China's role in the global economy has become prominent, its political status has also been significantly elevated, and China ha s been regarded as the next superpower.After the United States failed in its desire to establish a G2 or Chimerica, it turned to "pivotto Asia", which was adjusted to the "asia-pacific rebalance" in 2013. Objectively, the rebalancing policy is a traditional Anglo -Saxon regional strategy, which is very different from the Cold War's containment strategy against the Soviet Union. But from a security and economic point of view, it is clear that China is the main object of the US rebalancing .
In China, the negative effects of the "4 trillion yuan plan" launched in November 2008 have become increasingly prominent, with overcapacity and excess foreign exchange assets.China's oil, gas and mineral resources are highly dependent on foreign countries;China's industry and infrastructure are concentrated in the coastal areas, and it is easy to lose its core facilities if confronted with external attacks.The overall condition of China's border areas is at its best in history, and the willingness of neighboring countries to strengthen cooperation with China is generally on the rise. It is against this backdrop that China has timely proposed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as a powerful means to proactively create a cooperative, peaceful and harmonious environment for foreign cooperation, and create a favorable opportunity and external environment for China to comprehensively deepen its reform.
In accordance with the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, issued in March 2015 with the authorization of The State Council, China proposes the following: The Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the West Coast of the Strait, the Bohai Rim and other economic zones have the advantages of high.
degree of openness, strong economic strength and great radiating influence, to accelerate the construction of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and support Fujian in building a core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
We will give full play to the role of openi ng up and cooperation zones such as Qianhai in Shenzhen, Nansha in Gua ngzhou, Hengqin in Zhuhai and Pingtan in Fujian, deepen cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and build the Guangdong -Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area .
We will move forward with the development of the Zhejiang Marine Economy Development Demonstration Zone, Fujian Strait Blue Economy Pilot Zone and Zhoushan Islands New Area, and strengthen the development and opening up of Hainan a s an international tourism island.We will strengthen the development of ports in coastal cities such as Sha nghai, Tianjin, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjia ng, Shantou, Qingdao, Yantai, Dalian, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Haikou, and Sanya, and strengthen the functions of international hub airports such as Shanghai and Guangzhou.We will force deep- seated reform by expanding opening -up, innovate open economic systems and mechanisms, step up innovation in science and technology, and form new advantages in participating in and leading international cooperation and competition, so as to become the vanguard and main force in the Belt and Road Initiative, especially the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.We should leverage the unique strengths of overseas Chinese and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative regions to actively participate in and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative.We will make proper arrangements for t he Taiwan region to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Marine silk road" in the 21st century has produced fruitful results, and on June 6, 2015, foreign minister wang yi in Budapest with Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and foreign minister of economic affairs, signed the law of t he People's Republic of China government and the government promote the silk road on the economy and the construction of the maritime silk road in the 21st century a memorandum of understanding .This is the first cooperation document of its kind signed between China and a European country.
